PM Setu: Modi To Launch Scheme To Upgrade ITIs Under New Brand

The new upgraded programme will include all ITIs, and be designed in a manner that will increase enrolments.

While enrolments for skill development under ITIs have increased over the years, they stood at a mere 51 per cent in 2023-24, as per data furnished in Parliament. In 2021-22, the figure was less than 47 per cent.

“The ITIs need to be improved. We are expecting to increase enrolments and make the ITIs more efficient,” a senior official of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship told The Secretariat.  

Why ITIs Have Not Performed As Expected

Depending on the course, students can join the skill development training programmes after passing the 10th grade. Several courses are open for students even before that.

However, social stigma as well as aspirations of a large section of the middle class have hindered the enrolment into ITIs.

“The Indian middle class is obsessed with a graduation degree, which is considered a key parameter for gaining social acceptance and respectability, and this mindset is something that needs to be dealt with,” the official added.

Interestingly, in Indian society, a graduation degree is considered a key requisite for marriage despite the gradual churn and shift in mindset.

The Cabinet, in May, approved the National Scheme for ITI Upgradation, with a cost of Rs 60,000 crore, to be spent over the next five years. Under the scheme, 1,000 ITIs across the country were to get upgraded.

According to a report published by the Observer Research Foundation, many vocational programmes train students without giving them a realistic view of the jobs they will be eligible for. “This creates a mismatch in expectations between students and industry,” it said.

Why Skilling, Swadeshi Are Important

Amid global uncertainties and a rise in protectionism, India is looking to strengthen its skill training programmes and revamp the existing ones to make them more industry-ready.

As India focuses on self-reliance and the “Swadeshi” plank, employment generation will be key for India, which is home to 18 per cent of the global population with a median age of 28 years.

At present, there are 15,034 ITIs in the country, of which more than 11,700 are run by private players. Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Bihar, and Maharashtra are among the states with the highest number of ITIs.  

The government is also looking to rejig the National Skill Development Corporation to drive the training programmes and incentivise industries and corporate India to tap into the ready human capital pool the country offers.

Sources said that PM Modi, along with his core team, is now closely keeping an eye on employment generation schemes.